Arrest made after clerk run over during Nicholasville robbery

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) - Police have made an arrest after a gas station clerk was run over during a robbery.

Police arrested 21-year-old Zakary McNeely just before noon on Tuesday and charged him with first-degree robbery.

It was around 5 a.m. Tuesday when Nicholasville police responded to the Circle K on Edgewood Drive, thinking there was a fight in progress. That's where police say a man tried to buy some items, but didn't have enough money. After a confrontation, police say the suspect grabbed the items and ran out of the store.

The clerk chased after the man and was able to get the license plate, when police say the driver backed into the clerk.

Zakary McNeely admits he did something he says he shouldn't have done-- but insists he did not run the clerk over.

"I didn't hit him with my car. I went into the store got some beer, cracker jacks, and a carton of cigarettes," said McNeely.

"Honestly this is one from a simple theft case to what we would say is a robbery-first degree case," said Nicholasville Police Officer Kevin Grimes.

McNeely regrets the situation escalated.

"So now I got 10-20 years for something that should be two or three days and probation," said McNeely.

McNeely admits he tried to take items he didn't pay for. As for what happened to the clerk-- he insists the clerk jumped on his car and he fell off when McNeely drove away.

"I was a little intoxicated, being stupid, went into a store and got some stuff. I shouldn't have been doing that in the first place," said McNeely.

The clerk was taken to U.K. Hospital with what police described as non-life threatening injuries.

Police say they identified McNeely as a suspect after getting the license plate information from the car involved in the crime from the gas station's surveillance video.

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